Pistons crush Wizards by 30, end 5-game skid

[December 27, 2019]    Christian Wood scored 22 points off the bench, Tim Frazier had 17 points and six assists, and the host Detroit Pistons snapped a five-game losing streak by blasting the Washington Wizards 132-102 on Thursday.

Wizards guard Jordan McRae (52) drives to the basket as Detroit Pistons guard Bruce Brown (6) defends during the second quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Derrick Rose contributed 15 points and six assists, Blake Griffin had 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Andre Drummond supplied 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons. Bruce Brown and Svi Mykhailiuk added 12 points apiece, and Tony Snell chipped in 10.

The Pistons shot 53.5 percent from the field.

Anzejs Pasecniks topped the Wizards with 17 points while Bradley Beal and Jordan McRae had 15 points apiece. Troy Brown Jr. contributed 13 points, and Gary Payton II, signed less than a week ago, added 10 points.

The Wizards were held to 41.3 percent shooting.

Washington won at Detroit 133-119 on Dec. 16, but the Pistons dominated this game virtually from the start.

The Pistons learned earlier in the day that starting swingman Luke Kennard would miss at least the next two weeks due to knee tendinitis. The Wizards have been ravaged by injuries, and guard Isaiah Thomas was serving the second game of a two-game, NBA-issued suspension for confronting a fan in the stands.

The Pistons opened up a 20-point lead by halftime, 68-48.

Drummond led the way with 12 first-half points, including a tip-in right before the second-quarter buzzer. Bruce Brown scored 10 points and Griffin added eight before halftime.

The Pistons shot 55.6 percent and made just three turnovers in the first half. Washington also committed only three turnovers but shot 38 percent.

Detroit extended its lead to 26 early in the third when Mykhailiuk hit a 3-pointer, Griffin blocked an Admiral Schofield shot and Frazier followed with another long ball.

Frazier's 3-pointer midway through the quarter upped Detroit's advantage to 89-60. Griffin nudged the lead to 30 on a layup with 5:13 left in the quarter.

The Pistons carried a 106-76 lead into the fourth quarter.

Detroit now heads out on a six-game road trip, its longest of the season, beginning with a Saturday game at San Antonio. Washington plays its next six games at home, starting Saturday against the New York Knicks.

--Field Level Media

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